To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies received from Parish Councillors Jane Perry, David Burfitt, Mike Williams and Jim Cooke. Councillor Larcombe also informed that Horton Parish Council had sent their apologies as well.

Forum members to elect a Vice-Chairman for Flood Liaison Group amongst its membership.

Parish Councillor Ian Thompson proposed Councillor Larcombe as Vice-Chairman. The Chairman nominated Councillor Clark.

No other Forum member seconded either proposal. As such, the Chairman declared that the item would be deterred to the next meeting in April 2023.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26^th October 2022 were a true and accurate record.

To confirm the actions from the previous minutes.

ACTION: David Harding to update Parish Councillor Ian Thompson on Thames Water’s response to the build-up at Datchet Common Brook after a specialist had surveyed the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 206.

To receive the above verbal update.

(Parish Councillor Malcolm Beer entered the meeting at 18:34)

Brianne Vally, Environment Agency (EA), gave an update on the Thames Catchment Area. She explained that the Catchment Area received about 53% of average rainfall for January. While this was a lot less than the rainfall in November and December 2022, the rainfall in January 2023 nevertheless caused the catchment to be saturated as well as River Thames levels to be high in most locations. Most of the weirs along the Thames were drawn but not all were fully drawn yet. The Jubilee River’s radial gates were not being operated at the moment, but EA were continuing to monitor the situation carefully.

As of the day of the meeting, Brianne Vally informed that there were no flood warnings in RBWM, and none were expected imminently. There were no flood alerts along the Thames River area between Cookham and Wraysbury, but there were some flood alerts along the Thames River between Shepperton and Molesey. EA resources were being scaled up and were ready to escalate further if the situation changed, such as doubling staff on the rosters. Brianne Vally encouraged residents to report any concerns via the incident hotline.

Regarding the weather forecast in the next few days, Brianne Vally reported more rain was expected in the next few days, which meant river current high flows may continue to rise. Groundwater levels had also risen at 14 of the indicator sites across the River Thames Catchment Area and therefore EA were monitoring the situation carefully in Bray. In spite of this, there were no groundwater alerts in force at the moment in RBWM. She recommended that updates on local area water situations could be found online.

Brianne Vally then moved onto providing generic updates relating to an overview of flood risk planning. The Flood Risk Management plan was published in December 2022, which included details of measures identified nationally at significant risk of flooding. This plan could be accessed on gov.uk website by searching ‘Thames River Basin flood risk management plan’.

Brianne Vally then explained that the EA had changed its terminology: EA were no longer going to refer to ‘area benefiting from defences’ and instead they would refer to ‘areas having a reduction in flood risk from rivers and sea due to the presence of defences’. She then explained that the flood risk mapping portal (used for planning purposed or strategic flood risk assessments) was no longer met customer needs or provided a false sense of security for users, and therefore would no longer be available online. Instead, EA would provide areas having a reduction in risk of flooding due to the presence of defences on its product 4 (Detailed Flood Risk Assessment Map) where the information could be accessed and could be used to help planning applications.

Brianne Vally then presented an update Datchet to Hythe End Flood Improvement Measures. Regarding the project lifecycle, she explained that the EA were in the initial assessment phase and were preparing to submit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 207.

To receive the above verbal update.

David Harding, Customer and Stakeholder Manager (Thames Water), reported that the general update was that there was a large volume of emergency calls due to the recent rainfall causing some localised sewer flooding. Thames Water were not experiencing high ground water levels affecting the sewer network except in isolated areas in the western part of the Borough in which Thames Water was closely observing.

Parish Councillor Ian Thompson asked if David Harding could contact him outside of the meeting where he could discuss with David Harding on the Datchet Common Brook. David Harding agreed.

Parish Councillor Louvaine Kneene raised that there was a planning application around Moneyrow Green and that this was in a flood area. She informed that the sewers and pipes in the area were inadequate. David Harding replied that he could directly update her after the meeting.

Parish Councillor Malcolm Beer commented that the planning application encompassed a huge area and would require a lot of work to handle the water; and therefore, would cause a major problem. David Harding said he would include Parish Councillor Malcolm Beer in the update.

ACTION: David Harding to update Parish Councillors Louvaine Kneene and Malcolm Beer on the planning application around Moneyrow Green.

To receive the above verbal update.

Ben Crampin, Principal Flood Risk Manager, informed that the Datchet Barrel Arch project had been ongoing whereby the contracts were being finalised. He stated that he had been in contact with landowners to discuss the initial phase of the project. He also stated that he would be able to provide further information once a start date was confirmed.

The Flap Valve project had been ongoing. There was a slight issue with the modelling where it underestimated the flooding in the area; therefore, this was being redone with the baseline modelling to be completed by 20^th January and options testing completed by the end of January. RBWM are then expecting reporting back from JBA in mid-February which will allow a decision to be made and reported back at the next FLG meeting.

Regarding the recent heavy rainfall, Ben Crampin informed that the RBWM Flood Team had been working on a number of inquiries which involved property flooding and issues with infrastructure. He informed that residents should report any flooding issues through to the Council. This can be done through the website or via flooding.enquiries@rbwm.gov.uk.

Ben Crampin also informed that work on the GIA projects and Wraysbury Drain had been put on hold while he was away; but was seeking to continue work on them.

Parish Councillor Colin Lemmings raised that there was old vegetation in gutters across Bisham which then blocks waterflows. He asked if these could be cleared, adding that he and other residents had reported it but received no response. Ben Crampin suggested that Parish Councillor Colin Lemmings forward him the reference number for the reports. From there, Ben Crampin would then forward them to the Highways Team and then chase them up on an update and when the next scheduled cleaning would be.

ACTION: Parish Councillor Colin Lemmings to forward the reference number for the reports concerning the build-up of old vegetation in Bisham gutters in which Ben Crampin would forward to the Highways Team.

Parish Councillor Malcolm Beer asked if the gullies could be dredged, as well as pressure jets being applied on the outlets at Straight Road due to continual flooding on the shop fronts. Ben Crampin replied that he was going to have a meeting with VolkerHighways to discuss a number of infrastructure issues across the Borough; therefore, he would raise this with them and discuss and resolution.

Parish Councillor Louvaine Kneene gave an update to Ben Crampin on Manor Grove. Following Ben Crampin’s recommendation, she informed that the residents were contacted on cleaning the watercourse in which hopefully work could begin very soon. She informed that she would keep Ben Crampin updated.

To receive the above verbal update.

The Chairman asked the Parish Councillor representatives in the meeting if they had any updates.

Parish Councillor Colin Lemmings (for Bisham) stated that the Joint Emergency Planning Unit (JEPU) may be providing a new flood plan which may then cause Bisham Parish Council’s flood plans to be updated. He asked when this new plan may arrive. Emily Merritt, Emergency Planning Officer, replied that the plan was still in the draft format and was expected to be released in the next few months. She added that there was not much change to the plan and therefore should not change much Bisham Parish Council’s flood plans.

Councillor Larcombe informed that the Wraysbury drain was still left unrepaired but was looking forward to those repairs taking place. He also informed that the new planning application in Horton had been approved to extend a temporary gravel digging operation to a permanent waste handling facility. This was also next to the hundred new houses on Horton Road. He then stated that this could change the groundwater level in Horton Road, Horton.

Councillor Larcombe also raised that the ditches in Horton needed clearing out.

Ben Crampin stated that if there were specific issues which required immediate action, then an email should be sent to him and then he would forward this issue to VolkerHighways.

Parish Councillor Louvaine Kneene (for Bray) sent details in the Zoom call chat regarding an application for Thames Water.

Parish Councillor Ian Thompson informed that Datchet Parish Council had some minor updates to its flood plan and that it would be monitoring river levels as well as groundwater.

Parish Councillor Malcolm Beer thanked Brianne Vally for a meeting on Ham Island (with David Harding attending also) to find a resolution on this.

For Eton Town Council, Laura Regazzacci informed that there had not been much action apart from noting water levels of the Boveney River. The maintenance plan which was being monitored by Thames Water engineers would remain until June 2024 after which, it was hoped, there would be a resolution as to how the river weed would be managed from then onwards.